Spilled batch catcher



Feb. l1, 1936. lc, H. WlsE SPILLED BATCH CATCHER Filed DSC. 15, 1934 Wzi ess; 6m?. 921,4

Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims. (C1. 214-18) This invention relates generally to apparatus for feeding glass making vmaterials or batch to glass melting tanks or furnaces, and more particularly to mechanism for catching batch in the 5 space that will exist between a wall of a glass melting furnace or tank and a movable associate batch feeding apparatus whenrsuch apparatus is withdrawn from batch feeding relation with the furnace or tank.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple,

reliable and efficient device which will be` inactive and in an out-of-the-way position when a portable batch feeding apparatus with which the device is used is` disposed in batch feeding relation with a glass melting furnace or tank, and will be moved automatically to'position to catch the falling batch in the gap between the batch feeding apparatus and the furnace or tank as such batch feeding apparatus is moved away from the furnace or tank.

A Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter be pointed out or will become apparent from the following description of a particular practical embodiment of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view mainly invertical section and partly in side elevation, showing a spilled batch catcher embodying the `invention as applied to a movable batch feeding apparatus for feeding batch through an inletpassage in a vertical wall, which may be the wall of a glass melting tank or furnace, the View showing the batch catcher in inactive out-of-the-way position and the batch feeding apparatus in feeding relation with the inlet passage.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view generally similar to Fig. 1 but showing the batch catcher in its active position and the batch feeding apparatus withdrawn from feeding relation with the inlet passage.

In Figure l, a batch feeding apparatus, generally designated A, includes a batch feed chamber l0 having a feed outlet II at itsfront. A batch feeding member I2, working in the chamber I0,

is adapted to feed batch from me chamber |.0 through the outlet vIl into and through an inlet passage I3 in a vertical wall I4, representing a wall of the glass melting furnace, orthe like, when the front of the batch feeding chamber is positioned against the wall I4, so that the outlet II is in register with and, in effect, forms an outward continuation of inlet passage I3. The batch may be supplied to the feed chamber I0 through av hopper I5.

For movably supporting the batch feeding chamber I0 so that its outlet may be moved to and from batch feeding relation with the inlet passage I3, the batch feeding apparatus may include a supporting carriage I6, mounted on 5 wheels, such as that indicated at ITI. The wheels of the carriage I6 may move on rails. such as that indicated at I8, appropriately positioned to permit the batch feeding chamber to be moved into contact with the wall I4, as shown in Fig. 1, or 10 directly away from such wall.

The movable batch feeding apparatus described soI far and as shown in part in the drawing is substantially as disclosed in Patent No. 1,941,897, granted January 2, 1934, to the Hartford-Empire 15 Company as assignee of E. O. Hiller. Any suitable batch feeding apparatus may be employed, as the present invention does not reside in the provision of any particular batch feeding apparatus or of any particular means for movably sup- 20 porting such apparatus, but in the provision of a suitable spilled batch catcher for use in conjunction with a batch feeding apparatus for catching and collecting falling batch that otherwise not only would be scattered and wasted but 25 might cause injury to adjacent machinery and discomfort to workmen.

In carrying out the invention. I may make use of an elongate trough or chute I9. This trough or chute maybe movably suspended from frame- 30 work of the batch feeding apparatus, as by being pivotallyconnected at 20v with an arm 2| of a bell crank lever 22, which is supported by a horizontal pivot shaft 23 that is mounted in depending lugs, such as that indicated at 24, on the bot- 35 tom of the batch feeding chamber I0. The point of pivotal connection ofthe suspending arm 2l with the chute I9 may be nearer to one end of the chute I9 than to its opposite end, so that the chute will tend to swing to a vertical position. 40 The lower end portion of the chute may rest on a horizontal support 25, which may be a transverse structural element of the carriage I6. With this arrangement, the chute will be movably supported in an inclined position, with its upper end 4:5 below and close to the bottom of the batch feeding chamber I0 at the front. of the latter and with its lower end in position to discharge onto a supporting surface 26 which may be the bot- 50 tom of a receptacle 2'I` that may be included in or carried by the carriage I6.

A substantially horizontal surface 28 preferably is provided at the upper end of the chute I9 Vfor contact with a depending flange 29 at 55 the bottom of the feed outlet I when the feed chamber 2D is in batch feeding relation with the furnace wall 4 and the chute is in its retracted inactiverposition as shown in Fig. 1. At this` time, the uppermost edge of the bottom of the inclined chute bears against the wall I4 below the junctureof thev outlet and theinlet passage I3.

'Ihe second arm, indicated vat 30, of the bell crank lever 22 may be connected by a retractile spring 3| with a lug or bracket 32 on the carriage I6. This spring 3| tends to swing the bell'crank lever 22 in a counterclockwiseVV direction about the pivot shaft 23 and thus will be eifective'to maintain the chute I9 in the position shown in Fig. 1 when the batch feeding apparatus is positioned against the wall I4, as shown. Also, when the batch feeding apparatus is being moved from the position shown in Fig. lto that shown in Fig. 2, the spring 3| will tend to project the chute I9 forwardly and thus will maintain it against the wall I4 so that it will assume the position shown in Fig. 2 when the batch feeding apparatus has been retracted as shown. Consequently, batch falling from the outer end of the inlet passage I3 and from the outlet I I of the batch feeding chamber will be caught in the chute |9, as shown in Fig. 2, and delivered tothe supporting surface 26, constituting the bottom of the receptacle 21, from which it may be removed and transferred tothe source of supply of batch. Batch that otherwise would be scattered and Wasted thus is reclaimed. As batch may contain considerable dust or finely divided, powdery substances, loose batch is a source of annoyance and discomfort to workmen and of possible injury to or impairment of adjacent machinery. i

The extent of relative fore-and-aft movements between the chute` I9 and the batch feedingrapparatus may be limited by providing a stop 33 against which the arm 3| of the bell crank 22 will be moved when a predetermined counterclockwise swinging movement of the lever 22 has been effected. Preferably, this stop is so positioned that relativemovement between the carriage I6k and the chute or trough I9 will continue as the batch feeding apparatus is retracted as long as is required to catch all the loose batch that will be spilled from the inlet passage I3 in the wall I4. v Y

When the carriage I6 is returned toward the wall I4, as required to again position the outlet against the outer end of the inlet passage I3, the contact or engagement of therouter end of the chute |9 with the furnace wall I4 will return the chute I9 to its retracted inactive position, against the action of the spring 3|, as shown in Fig. 1. If desired, Vthis, retractive movement of the chute I9 may be aided or effected entirely by manual operation. To this end, the bell crank Y 22 may be provided with a handle 34 in position to be grasped and manipulated conveniently when desired.

Instead of mounting the spilled batch catcher on the mov-able carriage or framework of the batch feeding apparatus, the same may be mounted on any other suitable supporting structure adjacent to the place of engagement of the batch feed chamber with the furnace wall I4, as on framework of the furnace wall, so as to catch batch in the gap between the furnace wall and the outlet of the batch feeding chamber when'such chamber is being withdrawn. Also, the` chute may deliver-to any suitable receptacle the spilled batch that lt catches.

I claim:

paratus having a feed outlet and mounted'for movement toand from position to dispose said feed outlet in'batch feeding relation with an inlet passage in a wall of a Vglass melting furnace or likeV structure, a loose batch catcher movably supported beneath said batch feedingV apparatus when the latter is inbatch feeding relation with 1. The combination with a batch feeding apsaid inlet passage, andmeans acting automatical- Y lyto position said loose batchV catcherV beneath the gap created between the feed outlet and said inlet passage when said batch feeding apparatus is moved away from said wall.

2. In combination, a batchV feeding chamber having an outlet, a carriage supporting said batch feeding chamber forV movement to and from position to dispose said outlet Vin batch feeding relation ywith an inlet passage in the wall of a melting furnace or like structure, an inclined chute pivotally supported on said carriage in position to contact at its upper end with said wall at a place directly beneath the outer end of said inlet passage, and means acting automatically to maintain said chute in position to` receive batch falling between the outlet Vof .the batch feeding chamber and said inlet passage when said carriage is moved to withdraw said outlet from batch feeding relation with said inlet passage.

3.*In combination, Aa batch feeding chamber having an outlet, a carriage supporting said batch feeding chamber for movement to` and from Vposition to dispose said outlet in batch feeding relation with an inlet passage in the wall of a melting furnace. or like structure, an inclined chute pivotally supportedon said carriage in position to contact at its upper Vend with said Wall at a placedirectly beneath the outerfend of said inlet passage, means acting automatically to maintain said chute in position to receive batch falling between Vthe outlet of the batch feeding chamber and said inlet passage when said carsition to dispose said outlet in batch feeding re-V lation with an inlet passage in the wall of a'melting Yfurnace or like structure and against said wall, an inclinedV chute p-ivotally supported on said carriage in position to contact at its upper end with said wall at a place directly beneath the outer end of said inlet passage, means acting automatically to maintain said chute in position to receive batch falling between the outlet of the batch feeding chamber and said inlet passage when said carriage ismoved to Withdraw said outlet from batch feeding relation with said inlet passage, and a receptacle carried by such carriage for receiving batchfrom said chute.V

5. In combinatiom a'batch feeding chamber, having an outlet, a carriage supporting said batch feeding chamber for movement toward and from a wall of a glass melting furnace or the like, said wall having an inlet passage-said batch feeding chamber having an outlet adapted to register with and in eflectA form an outward continuation of said inlet passage when said batch feedingchamber has been moved against saidV wall, a downto resist movement of the upper end of such chute away from said wall when said batch feeding chamber is withdrawn from contact with said wall, and manually operable means for moving said chute against the resistance of said spring 5 pressed means.

CHARLES H. WISE. 

